Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Boulder, CO is $167,160/year ($80.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers.
So what does $167K get you in Boulder?
About aerospace engineers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aerospace engineers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $156K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $152K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $133K | , |
| Greeley | $141K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $167K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $107K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Aerospace Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $159K | +18% | 140 |
| Washington | $158K | +17% | 5,760 |
| California | $158K | +17% | 9,170 |
| District of Columbia | $158K | +17% | 290 |
| Maryland | $157K | +16% | 3,180 |
| Colorado | $156K | +16% | 4,070 |
| Massachusetts | $149K | +11% | 990 |
| Vermont | $144K | +7% | 100 |
| Virginia | $143K | +6% | 2,540 |
| Georgia | $140K | +4% | 2,230 |
| Ohio | $138K | +3% | 3,710 |
| Hawaii | $137K | +2% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $137K | +2% | 650 |
| Louisiana | $137K | +1% | 90 |
| Utah | $136K | +1% | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $136K | +1% | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | -1% | 990 |
| New Mexico | $133K | -2% | 570 |
| Missouri | $131K | -3% | 650 |
| Kansas | $130K | -3% | 1,730 |
| New York | $130K | -3% | 560 |
| Texas | $130K | -3% | 6,750 |
| Connecticut | $130K | -4% | 1,160 |
| Florida | $129K | -4% | 3,250 |
| Michigan | $129K | -4% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $129K | -5% | 610 |
| Alabama | $128K | -5% | 5,820 |
| New Jersey | $126K | -6% | 3,400 |
| Kentucky | $126K | -7% | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $125K | -7% | 1,090 |
| Oregon | $125K | -8% | 250 |
| Arizona | $123K | -9% | 3,110 |
| North Carolina | $123K | -9% | 650 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -19% | 90 |
| Illinois | $109K | -19% | 200 |
| Indiana | $107K | -20% | 440 |
| Arkansas | $102K | -24% | 180 |
| Alaska | $102K | -25% | 100 |
| Nevada | $97K | -28% | 270 |
| Idaho | $96K | -29% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $88K | -34% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track aerospace engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
Yes — at the median salary of $167K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,199/month.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $167K here vs. $135K nationally.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Boulder pays $167K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +24%.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $167,160 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $103,320, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $210,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $167K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,804/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 20.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aerospace engineers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aerospace engineers salary is worth about $167,160 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aerospace engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.